Peace Without Victory Sought in Adjustment of Zionist Controversy

June 18, 1928

Progress in the efforts to secure a rapprochement between the elements now parties to the Zionist controversy is reported by the Citizens Committee on Peace and Reconstruction in a special statement issued to the representative of the Jewish Daily Bulletin.

While the Committee is maintaining complete silence on its method of procedure, it was learned that negotiations have progressed to a point where for the first time representatives of the three parties were willing to come together for the purpose of working out a basis for future Zionist operation.

A meeting was held on Thursday evening at the house of the Society for the Advancement of Judaism. At this meeting, it was learned, a tentative plan for peace was submitted by the Citizens Committee. The Jewish Daily Bulletin is informed that the effort of the Committee to achieve peace and reconstruction has been conducted along two main lines. The first was to eliminate the personal animus and campaign of vituperation which has characterized the controversy; that accomplished, to work out a plan of reorganization in the conduct of the Zionist movement that shall represent the point of view of all three elements in the present controversy.

Another meeting was held last night. The following statement was issued after the Thursday evening session.

“The non-partisan group on peace and reconstruction invited leading personalities of the three main parties to the present Zionist controversy to meet in conference. The purpose of the conference was to see whether by negotiation an understanding could not be arrived at which would eliminate the bitterness which has been engendered and to endeavor to arrive at a harmonious basis for future cooperation.

“In the course of a frank and amicable discussion the way was prepared for the elimination of issues which have bulked large but have little bearing on and are irrelevant to fundamental issues of the Zionist movement and for the adjustment of difficulties which have arisen in connection with the coming Zionist Convention.

“A substantial gain was achieved insofar as it became evident to those present that nothing is so essential to the present controversy as to recover the sense of values of the Zionist movement. This will place in the fore the problem of reconstruction of Zionist activities in America for the benefit of the work in Palestine to which all parties are devoted. It was conceded that nothing would so obstruct the general desire of all Zionists to bring about an improvement in the method of Zionist activities as the continuation of personal polerities. There was a strong feeling on the part of all those present that what was to be obtained was not a political victory for any one Zionist party but a moral and practical victory for Palestine.”